40 per cent have no access to safe drinking water in Kashmir

Kashmir is endowed with abundant water resources yet nearly half of its population has no access to safe drinking water.

Admitting that 40 per cent population of the state is yet to have access to potable drinking water, Irrigation and Public Health Engineering Minister, Sham Lal Sharma Friday directed officers and engineers prioritize redressing people’s problems by improving work culture in the respective units.

It is shameful to have 40 per cent population of our state without quality water resulting in spread of various diseases”, Sharma said while addressing executive engineers in a meeting.

Sharma was appointed Public Health minister following a major ministerial shake-up last week to improve public image of the government as elections to the state assembly come closer.

He said 70 per cent of the diseases in the state is resulted from non-availability of potable water.